When the military vehicles from the Littlefield Collection cross the stage this weekend, the lot names will read more like a farm’s accounting record than a quartermaster’s inventory list. American wheeled vehicles set to go under the hammer in California include a Duck, a Greyhound, a MUTT, a Mule and even a (Gama) Goat, and all will be offered to buyers at no reserve.

In water, the DUKW was driven by propeller and steered via rudder.

Of the vehicles mentioned, the Duck (or more correctly DUKW Amphibious Truck, where D=1942 design, U=Utility, K=all-wheel drive, W=dual rear axles) is perhaps the best known, as many survivors still shuttle tourists on land and water sightseeing trips in major U.S. cities. Designed for the transport of men and material from ship to beach (and inland, if needed), the DUKW was based upon GMC’s G-508 series of 2-1/2-ton, six-wheel-drive cargo trucks. The first vehicle equipped with a central tire inflation system, the DUKW allowed the operator to “air down” tires for crossing loose surfaces such as sand, or “air up” for high speed, on-road driving.

Tested in the Pacific theater before being deployed to Europe, DUKWs played a key role in the invasions of both Sicily, Italy, and Normandy, France. Powered by a 269-cu.in. GMC inline six-cylinder engine rated at 94 horsepower, the DUKW has a top speed of 50 MPH on land and 5.5 knots (6.3 MPH) in the water, while delivering a payload capacity of 2.3 tons.

The DUKW offered is said to be an older restoration that still presents in good overall condition, and Auctions America predicts a selling price between $50,000 and $75,000.

M274A2 Mechanical Mule.

Those seeking an around-the-farm utility vehicle may be better served by the M274A2 Mechanical Mule, also crossing the stage on Saturday, July 12. Designed as a lightweight and air-transportable cargo hauler, the Mule could carry as much as 1,000 pounds of cargo across rough terrain (thanks to its four-wheel drive and, on some versions, four-wheel steering) and also served as a platform for the M40C 106-mm Recoilless Rifle or the TOW anti-tank missile system.

In particularly adverse terrain, the driver could dismount, drop the steering column, put the Mule in reverse and walk behind it, though operating the steering and throttle by hand likely proved challenging for new operators. With a top speed of just 25 MPH and virtually no safety features, the Mule is an off-road vehicle only; offered unrestored but in good overall condition, it’s expected to sell between $5,000 and $10,000.

A civilian-modified MUTT, or Military Utility Tactical Truck.

Spanning the gap between Jeep and Humvee are a pair of vehicles, including a modified, six-wheeled M151A2 MUTT, for Military Utility Tactical Truck, and an M561 Gama Goat. An evolution of the original Jeep, the MUTT shared the Jeep’s four-wheel drive, but offered a four-speed transmission and unibody construction with four-wheel independent suspension. Handling issues (particularly with heavy loads) prompted several redesigns, and this unique six-wheel MUTT is evidence that later civilian owners sought to improve the design further. Presented in unrestored condition and presently not running, the modified MUTT is expected to sell between $15,000 and $20,000.

The semi-amphibious, go-anywhere Gama Goat.

The M561 Gama Goat offered more versatility than the conventional Jeep or MUTT, as its design made it semi-amphibious, at least in calm water. Powered by all six wheels (including the pair underneath the articulated trailer), the Gama Goat had legendary climbing ability, and could reportedly cross terrain that even MUTTs found daunting.

As capable as they were, Goats were renowned for several drawbacks, including the noise of their two-stroke, three-cylinder diesel engines, which required the operator to wear hearing protection and presented a tactical disadvantage on the battlefield. In water, Goats were propelled only by their drive wheels, giving them a top speed of just 2.5 MPH and requiring use of the onboard bilge pumps in all but dead calm water. The example offered is said to be unrestored, but in good overall condition, and is expected to see a high bid between $10,000 and $15,000.

M20 Greyhound light armored car.

For those worried about road rage, perhaps the best animal-monikered American option available at the Littlefield Collection sale is the M20 Greyhound, a six-wheel-drive light armored car (based on the M8) used by Allied forces during the Second World War, and by some foreign governments long beyond. Designed as a tank destroyer, to replace the M6 37mm Gun Motor Carriage, the M8 Greyhound was equipped with the same turret-mounted 37mm gun as its predecessor, which proved inadequate to penetrate the main armor of German Panzer tanks.

Given the wartime need for vehicles, the M8 was pressed into service as a light armored car, and later evolutions included the M20 Greyhound, which deleted the heavy 37mm gun turret in favor of added agility. The M20 Greyhound, officially an “Armored Utility Car,” excelled in this role, and by the end of World War II was produced in a quantity nearly equal to the original M8. The lot offered for sale is said to be an older restoration in excellent overall condition, and Auctions America expects a selling price between $50,000 and $60,000.

The Littlefield Collection sale will take place on July 11-12 in Portola Valley, California. For additional details, visit AuctionsAmerica.com.

UPDATE (15.July): The DUKW sold for a fee-inclusive price of $78,775; the M274A2 Mechanical Mule sold for $5,750; the six-wheeled M151A2 MUTT sold for $12,650; the M561 Gama Goat sold for $16,675; and the M20 Greyhound armored car sold for $80,500.

The weekend after Fathers Day they had a beach landing on Lake Mich. , St. Jo/ Benton Harbor , Least We Forget 20th. Century Re-enactment Event . There were a few dukw’s and some Gator’s bringing in the Allies .

A shame they are selling off the collection to pay for the transportation costs. A museum in Mass. will display about 80 vehicles , the rest are being sold off to pay the moving cost’s . The MV’s look pretty good , but the estimates seem a bit high for un-restored vehicles . Gamma-Goat is a MV that is usually followed by Solider B with PARTS !!! ,man talk about a maintenance nightmare . Mule looks pretty complete , a restored one goes for around $7000-80000 , Gray Hound , MUTT and DUCK are very collectible . Interesting to see what the selling prices are .

Actually, most of the money generated by the sale will go into constructing a new building to house a world class museum for the 80 or so vehicles that are being kept. The museum will be built by the Collings family, at their foundation in Stow, MA. They already have a world class aircraft and vehicle collection on the grounds and hold military reenactments and other transportation related events frequently. I think that Jacques Littlefield would be quite proud to know that his collection is being kept partially intact and will be maintained by such a great organization as the Collings Foundation!

Most likely it was a LARC VI. Lighter, Amphibious, Resupply,Cargo, 5 ton capacity Not a duece and a half with a hull, but a boat with wheels. I was a LARC company Commander at Cam Ranh Bay, VietNam and Sattahip, Thailand in 1966 and 1967. 35 feet long, all aluminum, 300 hp CAT diesel, 35 mph/7.5 knot speeds, heavy surf capable, lots of uses, also 15 and 60 ton versions, do a Google search

They were not pretty, but they were functional and did the job they were designed to do. The Jeep and the MULE influenced the commercial market too. Like they say, “necessity is the mother of invention.”

Saw this museum on the show “Million Dollar Collections” and kept wondering, just how do you get a tank shipped? Maybe drive it down Rte. 66? Also wondered why they didn’t have (or at least show) a Russian T34 – maybe Putin is stashing them for the future.

We had DUKW in our Volunteer Fire Dept. in upstate NY for water rescue on Oneida Lake. It was a little awkward in the water and slow on the road, but it was more useful than bunch of outboard motor boats.

I spent a few hours in the back of a goat once at Ft Bragg back in the mid-80′s with an IV stuck in me – they, well, suck to say the least.

Ducks are all over the place – Boston (I got to drive it on the Charles River during a ride), Baltimore (I think), the Dells (of course) along with a bunch of other places. But you’re right, they are slowly running out of parts – granted, its 70 years old, the fact that they are still in service is a wonder.

I had a Jeep and a MULE to use in Viet Nam during the war. The Mule was so odd, but so much fun to drive that I took photos of myself in it. One of the very few things about being there that ever made me smile.

But you had to be very careful when driving these. I knew a guy who flipped one and was very badly injured. To use one, you had to have a special notation checked off on your military driver’s license by the motor master sergeant, giving you official permission. This meant you had been trained to use it. But few ever bothered with this detail.

Anyway, your feet extended far forward and you sat with your legs nearly straight out and the steering wheel was positioned in a way that reminded me of my 1963 Ford XL with the special T-Bird tilt-away column. But only with the column permanently in the tilt-away position! Fun to operate, but took a bit to get used to.

As far as DUKW vehicles… there are now several places around the country that have turned these military work horses into fun and exciting tour vehicles for various attractions. Always strange to see them again all painted up in bright colors now.

Leon, so how DID one operate a Mule with the steering column extended forward, transmission in reverse and walking behind it? It seems like it would take a unique skill set to steer, clutch, shift and operate the throttle with just two hands.

Ha! I remember doing the training, but as I recall this was with a weight load on the platform and with pedals pulled up like levers… throttled so low it barely ran. Only tried it once that way and it was the only UN-fun part of operating the MULE.

Otherwise, I sat in the seat and drove it the usual way. Sometimes when they flew commo gear in to us out in the field at the LZ, I brought it back from wherever the choppers or fixed-wing craft landed by loading it on one of these. As I recall I was the only one in my commo group who bothered to get the training on this little vehicle.

My Jeep was considerably sleeker and faster and a blast to drive. Had the cool “whip” antenna on the rear. But I looked at it a whole new way one day after two fellows borrowed it and took off on a convoy with the windshield folded down. Good ‘ol charlie had strung piano wire across the road right about shoulder high. They hit it probably doing 35 or 40 MPH. Somehow I lost interest in driving the Jeep after that sad day.

Some fishing outfit in San Felepe Mexico has a fleet of DUKWS that take you out into the inland sea off Baja California where you can catch sharks all day long. Lose a lot of leaders and hooks, but what the heck, just riding in a DUK is worth it.

If I had the bucks I’d buy a DUKW or maybe even two. The perfect vehicle for LA traffic. One modification for me would be a brace of Browning MkII .50 caliber heavy machine guns mounted forward and aft, with camera control programmed for Volvos and Pirus’.

I agree with Tallman’s post–the Army had trucks with low-boy trailers to haul tanks on roads. Of course, the Museum could also have it transported by rail, like the Army did at Fort Hood every time the 1st Cavalry/2nd Armored Division went to the training center in the desert at Fort Irwin in California.

The Mule is interesting. There are companies out there selling reconditioned versions–see their ads in military vehicle magazines.
Which also reminds me of something that was for sale at the Pate Swap Meet at Texas Motor Speedway this past spring–someone took a Mule chassis, lowered it somehow, and stuck a SHORTENED mid-’60s MG Midget/Austin-Healey Sprite body on it! The normal front hood was welded shut, and the rear trunklid was used to access the engine! The doors shortened with the body. Think I was offered for $7500, or was it less?

This collection is being liquidated as an estate. Mr. Littlefield died suddenly in 2008 at 48 years old. He was divorced and an only child I believe. His inheritance came from the billions of $$ his father made as a founder of GE. This collection was accumulated before his area of Portola Valley was developed. Now, the small and well traveled road will need many expensive permits from the CHP to get it down the hill and on to Hwy. 101. Portola Valley is south of San Jose, CA. There are some vehicles not yet re-stored and many that are still overseas that the US government would not allow Littlefield to import.

I was fortunate to tour the facility in 2009 as part of the Hot San Jose Nights inaugural car show events. I’m a retired Army ordnance officer and was in awe of the magnificent maintenance facilities and the state of readiness of the equipment. I never had that level of readiness in my units!

One man from Stockton spent the week at the facility maintaining and doing repairs when necessary. This place would be ideal for Jay Leno to have. It is truly a state of the art facility with the best capabilities of any shop I have ever seen. Lucky man to have the shops alone! too bad Discovery Networks didn’t air this auction live on Velocity or even the former Military Channel, now The Heroes Network.

Allow me to clear some of the information on Jacque, he was 59 when he died of colon cancer in 2009. His dad was a board member at GE but was the CEO of Utah International (Hoover Dam) being one of their projects. It’s true he had a “few million” to start with but armed with a Stanford Economics degree he parlayed it in to much more. Pony Tracks Ranch was a summer home of “Sunny Jim” an ex-mayor of San Francisco and it is north of San Jose (south of San Francisco) He also leaves behind a concert hall (with a pipe organ) and 4500′ of narrow gauge railroad track complete with “towns and trestles”

The SeaBee base in Port Hueneme, CA has about 100 of these along with jeeps, trucks & 1/2-tracks just sitting since WW2, Korea & Nam…..I was in the motor pool in the 80′s & we wanted to restore a few… but NoGo from tha base Commander

…What a waste ….. they are still there via a Google map…Can’t believe Jerry Brown or some Senator wouldn’t auction them off to collectors and make some money for the State ??

The gama goat was one loud ride. i was in an 8 inch artillery unit from 72-74 (yup, a draftee)
I was in FDC – Fire Direction Control – and about the only thing louder than the goat was the battery firing for effect.
But they could go damn near anywhere you pointed them. Cool unit.

I belong to the MVPA, Empire State West , military vehicle club , and I just loaded my M274A5 Mule for a Military Show this Saturday . They are fun . I have 2 A5 mules , a M37 , M101 trailer and a Deuce they are ALL fun rides . There is about 30 members in our unit and when we have a show it is something to see , LOT’s of OD . Most of the public doesn’t even know we exist . WE do it to one , to save the MV’s and second to honor the VET’s . We cover the whole spectrum from WWII thru Desert Storm . Just picked up a M38A1 Jeep (CJ) ,M101 trailer and another M37 , true BARN FINDS !!! and both the vehicles have RADIO’s go figure

when I was in the 15th Engineer Battalion Fort Lewis Washington,I drove a gamagoat down a boat ramp at North Fort Lewis into Puget Sound! we had to have the bilge pump on to keep the engine compartment from flooding! 1973 it was.

The Gamma Goat was the brainchild of a one, MG Jerry Sharpe, former base commander of Aberdeen Proving Grounds. It was unreliable, a maintenance headache and caused more deafness than an artillery group! Luckily for the infantry they did not remain in the inventory for long. However, Jerry Sharpe got at least two stars out of the deal!

At an Officer Dining In, us dumb 2LT’s had to listen to him drone on about his accomplishment. Unless a LT went from the basic course to a General Support Maintenance Depot he would not see them sitting in the storage lot for years awaiting parts and maintenance during the Carter no money years.

Looks like your every day Michigan farm equipment
Between fuel cost and upkeep they make great museum pieces
This memorabilia should be kept with it being available
for Veterans etc to see.
I only hope they don’t end up in a private collection
hidden from the public